Volume 3: Dragon and Snake Movement Chapter 391: Do not interfere in other people's affairs if you are not in their position
When Jiu Niang hurried to the Tianxia Taiping Building on Qipan Street, the one-sided debate had already ended. However, the onlookers downstairs did not disperse, and some were still talking about the words they had just heard. In particular, Zhu Ying's repeated words "Old Man Jiang" had become a word that countless people kept talking about.
At least, Jiu Niang heard various catchphrases in the crowd, such as "Old Jiang, who refuses to repent", "Old Jiang, who flatters his superiors and bullies his subordinates", "Old Jiang, who is a good citizen and can bully", "Old Jiang, who is innocent", "Old Jiang, who is a mouthpiece", etc. People probably think that the law does not punish the masses... Could it be that the Prime Minister Jiang Ge Lao can send troops to arrest everyone on the street just because of these three words "Old Jiang"?
When she heard people say that those were Zhu Ying's original words, even though she and the Madam had said in front of Lu Sanlang that they supported Zhu Ying to make a scene, she couldn't help but feel a headache. This was even more violent than she had imagined!
At this moment, she heard a passerby shouting, "I only knew that Miss Zhu was powerful and domineering, and she beat people fiercely, but I didn't expect that she could scold people so fiercely! Those scholars were scolded so hard that they finally covered their faces and ran away, but Miss Zhu didn't leave. She was still entertaining guests upstairs in a swagger! I heard that Princess Yongping came just now!"
Before Jiu Niang could speak, the guard leading the way coughed and then pretended to be curious and asked, "Besides Princess Yongping, are there any other guests?"
"There are also Princess Deyang, Princess Xinyang, Princess Ninghe, and the daughter of Minister Liu of the Ministry of Works..."
Hearing this, Jiu Niang understood everything immediately. Except for Princess Yongping, weren't these all the future wives of Zhang Shou's students? Princess Deyang was Zhang Wu's fiancée, Princess Xinyang was Zhang Lu's fiancée, Princess Ninghe was the fiancée of the governor's son Zhao Mingxiang, and as for Liu Qing, the daughter of Minister Liu? That was Lu Sanlang's fiancée. Was Zhu Ying practicing how to be a teacher's wife?
Who would believe Zhu Ying if she said she didn't do it on purpose when a bunch of unmarried girls from her own small circle gathered together like this! If she guessed correctly, Zhu Ying's original plan was to wait until everyone was present before she could say something, rather than confronting a group of scholars alone before everyone was present. It was obvious that Zhu Ying was impulsive again...
Although she thought so in her heart, Jiu Niang was sure that she didn't need to worry about Zhu Ying at this moment. When she entered Buddhism, Zhu Ying also took good care of her - even if she had her grandmother, father, brother, empress dowager and emperor Yufei to take care of her, if she didn't have a strong heart, she wouldn't have grown up to be what she is now.
So, Jiu Niang gave up the idea of going upstairs or sending someone to see Zhu Ying, and winked at the guard who started to ask questions, and the two quietly left the crowd. At this time, Mother Jin, who was watching outside the crowd, was already getting a little anxious. When the master and the servants returned to the small teahouse, the guards who had just been sent out had all come back.
Because the deadline was half an hour, everyone was very punctual and rushed back, but they didn't expect that when they returned, the hostess was gone! Thinking of the eldest lady who didn't know what she was doing there, if Jiu Niang hadn't left them a message when she left, she would have finally rushed back at this time, everyone was so crazy that they almost banged their heads against the wall.
They have lost the master they are supposed to protect. Are there any guards like them?
After all these twists and turns, when Jiu Niang entered the palace from Bei'an Gate of the Imperial City, it was already past lunchtime. Fortunately, everyone had eaten tea and snacks at the teahouse as a substitute for lunch, so they were not hungry at this time. When Jiu Niang arrived in front of the main hall of Yu Fei's Yonghe Palace, she saw that the dining table had just been removed. What was even more unexpected to her was that the person who came out from behind the dining table... turned out to be the emperor!
Since the pilgrimage incident seventeen years ago, Jiu Niang has not seen the emperor - firstly, there is a difference between men and women, and secondly, she and Zhao Guogong Zhu Jing had been at odds for so many years. Although she returned home later, she went to the Qingning Palace only a few times, and each time she went with the lady dowager. She also seldom went to Yonghe Palace, as if she had become estranged from Concubine Yu because of the old incident.
At this moment, she didn't know what expression she should have, but when she bowed her head and knelt to salute, she found that the emperor was actually walking straight towards her, and finally the pair of black boots stopped four or five steps away from her.
"Sometimes I think it's really interesting. All my children put together, probably not as brave as Yingying. Her courage is beyond the reach of any man."
Jiu Niang's nervousness and vigilance disappeared because of the emperor's words. When she raised her head, she saw that the emperor was walking away surrounded by several eunuchs and palace servants. Realizing that the emperor might have known what happened in Tianxia Taiping Tower - it was impossible for him not to know, as it was a royal property - she felt calm.
Anyway, Zhu Ying has been like this since she was a child. She finds it troublesome to stab people in the back, so as long as possible, she will just rush in and grab them openly!
When Jiu Niang went to Yonghe Palace to see Concubine Yu, Lu Jijiu, who had just graduated from Daming Public School a few months ago, also got the news of the one-sided debate on Tianxia Taiping Building in Qipan Street. As for the person who delivered the message... it was Lu Sanlang. While he personally delivered the letter to the Zhu family, he sent someone to follow Zhu Ying secretly, so he rushed over as soon as he got the news after leaving Zhu's house.
In other words, if Jiu Niang hadn't used the excuse of meeting Concubine Yu to part ways with others, she could have actually caught up with the debate.
The little fat boy was just touched by Zhu Ying's tough attitude, so he came to inform his father. After reporting the news, he ran away immediately. When Lu Wan came to his senses and wanted to ask for more details, he had disappeared. He had never had much to do with this slippery fat son, and he knew that it was very filial for someone to come and inform him of this matter.
However, he had already thought about the consequences of Zhu Ying's reckless behavior today. He was probably considered a traitor in the eyes of the truly stubborn Jiang Ge Lao. He resigned at the critical moment and withdrew from the situation, but he also sought a retreat place like the public school. If he claimed that he had not reached a compromise with the Zhu family, would people believe him?
He had reached a tacit understanding with the Zhu family. Otherwise, all those imperial censors who had charged into battle would have been mowed down like grass. Would he, the Minister of War who had once instigated them, be so carefree? Of course, if he and Jiang Ge Lao continued to stick together, they would have the capital to fight against the Zhu family, but the enemy this time was not Zhu Jing.
"Da Sicheng!"
Hearing the shouts from outside and seeing a young man rushing in, Lu Wan's face suddenly darkened: "I have said it several times. The public school is not the Imperial College, and I am not the chief judge!"
"Yes, Grand Secretary." The young man answered habitually, and then said awkwardly, "I know, but everyone outside calls me that, and I can't change it for the time being. Besides, I was used to calling you that when I was in the Imperial College... Just now, Lord Jiang sent someone to tell you something important, and I forgot your instructions for a moment. The person who came said that Lord Jiang invited you to his home for a while!"
Lu Wan raised his eyebrows immediately and then fell silent.
He is in his early fifties this year. According to the system of Taizu, as a Jinshi graduate, he, like other Jinshi graduates, first served as a Hanlin for one year, concentrated on learning the court laws and various systems, then served as an imperial censor in the Censorate for one year (of course some people also went to the Six Ministries), served as a county magistrate for three years, and then returned to the court to serve as the Supervisory Censor and the Chief Censor of Zhejiang Province, and then went to Gansu to serve as the Military Preparations Director, and was appointed as the Governor of Shanxi for two terms.
When he had accumulated enough official qualifications and finally returned to the court, he was promoted directly to Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, and three years later he became the head of the Ministry of War.
In terms of age, he was much luckier than many people who entered the official career at middle age, as he passed the imperial examination at the age of 25. He had enough time to gain experience. In the 26 years after passing the imperial examination, he did not change official positions very often, and he often worked in one official position for six years. If he was not young, he might have retired long ago.
Therefore, he had accumulated all the qualifications before entering the cabinet, waiting for the day when he would be promoted to Grand Secretary and complete the final step of becoming a prime minister. Unfortunately, he was a student of Jiang Ge Lao, and Jiang Ge Lao had intervened in many key moments of official transfers. Therefore, when Zhu Jing turned the tide and returned to Beijing in triumph, he, the Minister of War, was in an awkward situation.
After weighing the pros and cons, he accepted the suggestion made by his son Lu Sanlang - although he knew that the suggestion was definitely not made by his smart but fat son who was still a little bit immature - and retreated bravely and directly handed over the position of Minister of War. In his opinion, this was better than holding on to the end and being cut off by Jiang Ge Lao to survive, and it was also better than being driven out of the position by the emperor.
However, once his story of admitting his mistakes and correcting them spread, coupled with the fact that the public school was being prepared in full swing, he immediately encountered a strong backlash from Lord Jiang.
For example, when Lu Sanlang recounted the debate between Zhu Ying and several scholars, if it were not for the tacit approval of Lord Jiang and the encouragement or even instigation of his students and old friends, would anyone dare to bring out his prohibition order, which was not a new thing, and speak out so irresponsibly?
He had already done his best. He had never pointed out that it was Lord Jiang who was behind him. He also had sent money as a gift to those censors after they were demoted. He was nothing like Lord Jiang, who just sent someone to give them a few words of encouragement without paying a penny.
This old man who has been the Prime Minister for many years boasts that he is incorruptible, but he doesn't know how much money his grandson has squandered outside. Does he think that all the officials under him have no complaints? Now, just because he wants to protect himself, they still want to hold him back and use him as a target to continue to show off their power?
At this moment, seeing the young man who had just come in to deliver the message stealing glances at her, Lu Wan said calmly, "Did he leave? Or is he still outside?"
The young man quickly said respectfully, "He left after delivering the message."
"Haha." Lu Wan laughed with an ambiguous meaning, and then said to the young man gently, "For the affairs of this public school, there are ways to welcome guests and pass messages, and there are rituals. Why is it worth it for you to run there in person? You should know that you are a student of Jiuzhang Hall, and you are temporarily transferred to the public school to teach Jiuzhang Mathematics... From my memory, you should be teaching Ge's Mathematics. You should regard yourself as a teacher, a master."
Seeing that Lu Sanlang recommended him, the young student from Jiuzhang Hall was stunned at first, and then he showed an expression of excitement and a little moved. The experienced Lu Jijiu adopted an attitude that made people feel even more relaxed.
"If someone asks you to pass on messages in the future, just refuse. You should be a role model, not a runner for these people!" Lu Wan said, patting the person on the shoulder affectionately, and encouraged, "Some people from your Jiuzhang Hall are rotating to do internships with President Wang, and some come to teach here. If you ask me, the first batch of people in Jiuzhang Hall is really too small and not enough. You have a bright future!"
Seeing Lu Wan's sincere attitude, the young student from Jiuzhang Hall almost shed tears and bowed in response. But after he took his leave and walked out two steps, he couldn't help but stop and asked inexplicably, "Are you still going to see Lord Jiang?"
"I am no longer an official of the imperial court. The position of the chief priest of the public school has no rank. People respect me because I used to be the Minister of War. So, Lord Jiang's so-called discussion of important matters is really overestimating me." Lu Wan seemed not to care about the unnecessary question of the young student. Instead, he said patiently and carefully, "So, I will send someone to tell him that I will not go."
The young student was stunned at first, but after hesitating for a long time, he whispered, "Is it because of those rumors outside... But you have done enough, could it be that Lord Jiang is still unwilling to give up?"
It seems that the rumor that Minister Lu can correct his mistakes but Lord Jiang refuses to repent is really deeply rooted in people's minds!
Lu Wan sighed inwardly, but said it very tactfully: "You are a teacher in the public school, but you are still a student in the Jiuzhang Hall of the Imperial College. Don't make rash assumptions and ruin your character. Don't think too much about these trivial matters, so as not to have distracting thoughts. Several famous teachers I invited will be here soon in the next few days. You are a disciple of Ge Men. Cheer up and help me receive them. It will be helpful to you..."
With a few words, he comforted this young student who was as young as a scallion, completely ignorant of worldly affairs, and unlike some of the old-fashioned students in Jiuzhang Hall, and saw him leave with tears of gratitude. Lu Wan just sighed silently that it was good to be young, and then began to think again whether the people he invited would come. The public school was still in the preparation stage, so he did not recruit students for the primary and secondary schools as Zhang Shou said.
In the case of insufficient teaching staff, he mostly taught his son Lu Sanlang and some students in Banshan Hall on a voluntary basis. The students he taught were those in the capital who could not afford private schools but were really hardworking. As for how to select these people, one entrance examination was enough, and the examination papers were also marked by the students of Jiuzhang Hall.
From this perspective, the group of people selected by Zhang Shou of Jiuzhang Hall are indeed much more obedient, disciplined, and motivated than the students of other halls of the Imperial College! However, the famous teacher still has to be invited. He believes that someone has been waiting for this day for a long time.
As for Lord Jiang, he sent people to invite him but he left without any response. Did he think he was still the disciple who could be summoned and dismissed at will?
At night, when Jiang Ge Lao returned home and learned that Lu Wan had sent a letter to him, euphemistically saying that he was not in a position to discuss important matters with the Prime Minister, his originally gloomy face suddenly became like a rainstorm. When he arrived at the study, he saw several staff members standing up, and he blurted out a sentence.
"Since the Zhu family has lost their dignity, why should they be polite? I don't believe Zhu Tingfang and Zhang Shou can handle it!"
